Vehicle brake



40 combinations of parts an Patented Mar. 9, '1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFEicE.

ADIEL Y. DODGE AND WILLIAM J. ANDRES, F SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS"T0 BENDIX BRAKE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A 'CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

VEHICLE BRAKE.

" To all whom t mag/concern:

Be it known that we, ADrEL Y. DODGE and WiLLIAM J. ANDRES, citizens ofthe United .States residing in South Bend, in the county of t. Josephand State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improve.-inent in Vehicle Brakes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle brakes, and is illustrated as embodiedin an automobile chassis having brakes on all four wheels. An object ofthe invention is to provide a novel compromise hookup obtainlngsubstantially all the advantages of a fully-e ualized system, withoutthe danger of all t e brakes being rendered useless when Uone brake rodis broken, and while still permitting the automatic relief in pressureon the outside front brake when rounding a corner.

\ In one vdesirable arrangement, a" single cross rockshaft applies allfour brakes, and is supported in amanner ermitting its overhangng ends(preferab y of reduced diameter) to flex to equalize small differencesin Ipressure between each front brake and the rear brake onv the sameside of the vehicle. While the exing of the shaft ends b not prevent theapplication of the remainingbrakes. The flexing of the shaft, however,

' 35 prevents the locking of one front brake when the connection isbroken to the rear brake .on that side.

The above and other objects and features of the invention, includinvarious novel desirable particular constructions, will be apparent fromthe following description of one illustrative embodiment shown in theaccompanying drawing, in which: 4

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the chassis; and

Fig. 2 is a detail section, on a larger scale, showing the manner ofsupporting the rockft. 5 'I'lie chassis illustrated includes a frame 10,su ported by the usual springs (not showx on a front axle 12 and a rearaxle 14. e front axle 12 ,has wheels 16 with brakes=18 swivelled at itsende, while the rear axle 14 is supported on wheels 20 having brakes 22.

Each of the front brakes is shown o erated by a Hoating rockshafttslidably and universally supported on the frame 10 at its inner end andconnected to the brake by a universal joint substantially in theswivelling axis of the Wheel and having its vertical axis intersectingthe swivelling axis at an acute angle, so that the pressure on the outerbrake is automatically relieved on a turn. This brake-applying mechanismis described in detail in our prior application No. 18,987, filed March28, 1925.

According to the present invention, the rear brakes 22, and arms on theshafts 24 of the front brakes 18, are connected, by brake rods or cables26 or their equivalents, directly to arms 28 on the ends of a rockshaft30 arranged crosswise of the vehicle. The rockshaft 30 is operated by apedal or the like 32 connected in any suitable manner, as by a link 34pivoted to an arm 36 eesk on the rockshaft.

As explained above, some distance from its ends the rockshaft issupported, referably by self-aligning bearingsBS ig. 2)

y means such as a air of brackets 40 carried bya cross mem er 42 offrame 10.

The bverhanging ends of shaft 30, one of which ap ears in Fig. 2projecting throu h a relative ylarge opening `43 in one of the sideframe members, are preferabl substantially reduced in diameter, to al owthem to Hex or whip slightly. A. very small amount of flexing, as aneighth o'f an inch, 90 is suilicient to equalize a very considerableAdifference in adjustment of the front brake and rear brake connected tothat end of the shaft. Whilethe advanta es of e ualization are thussecured. the brekage of less than all four rods '26 is not enough torevent application of the remaining brakes, nor is the relief of theouter front brake on a turn in any way interferred with.

` While one illustrative embodiment has been described in detail, it isnot our intention tov limit the scope of the invention to that articularembodiment, or otherwise than y the terms of the appended claims. Weclaim: l 1. A vehicle having a pair of f-ront wheels having/brakes and apain of rear wheels havingbrakes, ai. 'l comprising, in combinationtherewith, a driver-operated rockshaft extending crosswise of thevehicle, connections rom each end of the shaft to the front brake andthe rear brake on that side of the vehicle, and means for su porting therockshaft spaced substantial y inwardly from its ends, the end parts ofthe rockshaft overhanging said means being free to flex slightly toequalize small di erences in pressure between the front and rear brakes.

2. A vehicle having a pail` of front wheels having brakes and a pair ofrear wheels having brakes, and comprising, in combination therewith, adriver-operated rockshat extending crosswise of the vehicle, connectionsfrom each end of the shaft to the front brake and the rear brake on thatside of the vehicle,l and means for supporting the rockshaft spacedsubstantially inwardly from its ends, the end parts of the rockshaftoverhanging said means being reduced in Levende diameter and free to Hexslightl small diderences in pressure b front and rear brakes.

3. A Vehicle having a pair of front wheels having brakes and a pair' ofrear wheels having brakes, and comprising, in combination therewith` adriver-operated rocksha ft extending crosswise of the vehicle,connections from each end ofi the shaft t0 the front brake and the rearbrake on that side of the vehicle, and brackets for supporting therockshaft spaced substantially lnwardly from its ends, the end parts ofthe rockshat overhanging said brackets being free to flex slightly toequalize small differences in pressure between the front and rearbrakes.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names.

ADIEL Y. DODGE. WLLIAM J. ANDRES.

to equalize etween the

